Seat harness with a non-openable closed belt

ABSTRACT

A harness comprises a non-openable and entirely closed belt and adjuster ( 11 ) enabling adjustment of the dimension of the belt to allow passage at the hips of the user. The adjuster may be a strap ( 12 ) having two self-gripping strips, one being of the buckle type ( 13 ) and the other of the hook type ( 14 ). The strap ( 12 ) is attached to one end of the belt, at the back of a roping up bow ( 15 ) and is passed through a ring ( 16 ) attached to the other end portion of the belt, its end provided with the hook type self-gripping strip ( 14 ) is folded back against its portion with the buckle type self-gripping strip ( 13 ). When the self-gripping strips are separated, the belt recovers its maximum length to pass over the hips of the user. The harnesses can take any harnesses form including shorts, Bermuda shorts or trousers.

[0001] The present invention relates to a seat harness, the specific construction of which makes it possible for a user to be in complete safety once he or she has donned the harness, without having to manipulate safety buckles mounted on belt or thigh straps.

[0002] The safety of the harness according to the invention is then enhanced since it can never be opened. In addition, the harness may be donned more easily as its components are always correctly positioned and identifiable.

[0003] This invention relates to all types of seat harnesses, particularly, and in a non-restrictive manner, to personal protective equipment (PPE) against falls (rock climbing, mountain climbing, speleology and safety harnesses).

[0004] Usually, a seat harness comprises one or more safety buckles by which the user may install and adjust it on his or her body:

[0005] either by completely opening the belt (and the thigh straps, if they are adjustable), and then positioning the harness on his/her body and closing the belt strap (and the thigh straps) in order to be in complete safety;

[0006] or by sliding the strap or straps to increase the size of the harness in order to be able to put it on as with a pair of pants, and then adjusting the straps by sliding them through the buckles in order to be in complete safety.

[0007] On the one hand, it is not always easy to fit the harness into place. On the other hand, a buckle improperly used, in particular by an inexperienced person, may be dangerous, as there is a risk of the harness opening.

[0008] The present invention, thanks to its specific construction, makes it possible to overcome the drawbacks associated with the conventional harnesses.

[0009] The invention is based on a belt that is completely closed and non-openable, the size of which is designed to allow it to pass over the hips of the user. The size of the belt may then be adjusted to the waist of the user where the harness should normally be worn through the use of adjusting means in the form of an elastic member or a strap with self-gripping strips.

[0010] As the harness can never be opened, the user is immediately in complete safety as soon as he or she has donned it, which is further facilitated by the fact that the straps cannot become tangled.

[0011] This novel construction also makes it possible to manufacture harnesses in the form of shorts, bermuda shorts or trousers. This opens up numerous possibilities from the aesthetic viewpoint.

[0012] The accompanying drawings (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3) are provided to show three exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0013] Embodiment 1 According to FIG. 1

[0014] In this embodiment, the harness comprises adjusting means which are formed of an elastic member 1, the size of which is perfectly adapted and which is located at a roping up bow 2. The elastic member 1 is attached to each end 3 a, 3 b of a belt 3 and allows the user to put on the harness and to position it properly around his or her waist.

[0015] Embodiment 2 According to FIG. 2

[0016] In this embodiment, the harness comprises adjusting means 4 made up of a strap 5 having attached to the outer face thereof two self-gripping strips, one being of the buckle type 6 and the other of the hook type 7. Said strap 5 is fixed at the back of a roping up bow 8 of the belt and comes out onto the front of the belt through a buttonhole 9. The hook strap 5 is passed through a ring 10 and its end portion provided with the hook type self-gripping strip 7 is then folded back against its portion provided with the buckle type self-gripping strip 6. When the two self-gripping strips are separated, the belt recovers its maximum length, enabling it to pass over the hips of the user.

[0017] Embodiment 3 According to FIG. 3

[0018] In this embodiment, the adjusting means 11 comprise a strap 12 having attached to the outer face thereof two self-gripping strips, one being of the buckle type 13 and the other of the hook type 14. Said strap 12 is attached to one end portion of the belt, at the back of a roping up bow 15, and is passed through a ring 16 attached to the other end portion of the belt, its portion provided with the hook type self-gripping strip 14 being folded back against its portion provided with the buckle type self-gripping strip 13. When the two self-gripping strips are separated, the belt recovers its maximum length, enabling it to pass over the hips of the user. 

1. Seat harness characterized in that it comprises a closed belt (3) and adjusting means (1, 4, 11) associated with the belt and enabling the user to adjust the seat harness to his or her waist.
 2. Harness according to claim 1, characterized in that the adjusting means (1) comprise an elastic element closing the belt (3) and having a predetermined length, the elastic element being attached to each end (3 a, 3 b) of the belt and being located at a roping up bow (2).
 3. Harness according to claim 1, characterized in that the adjusting means (4, 11) comprise a strap (5, 12) having attached to the outer face thereof two self-gripping strips, one being of the buckle type (6, 13) and the other of the hook type (7, 14).
 4. Harness according to claim 3, characterized in that the strap (5) is located at the back of a roping up bow (8) and comes out onto the front of the belt through a buttonhole (9).
 5. Harness according to claim 3, characterized in that the strap (5, 12) is passed through a ring (10, 16), its end portion provided with the hook type self-gripping strip (7, 14) being folded back against its portion provided with the buckle type self-gripping strip (6, 13).
 6. Harness according to claim 5, characterized in that the strap (5) is located at the back of a roping up bow (8) and comes out onto the front of the belt through a buttonhole (9).
 7. Harness according to claim 1, characterized in that it can take the form of a short, a Bermuda short or trousers. 